1) The Wombats (TWB)… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists that share this name:
1) The Wombats (TWB) are a three-piece indie band which formed in 2003 in Liverpool, England. The band consists of Matthew Murphy (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Tord Øverland Knudsen (bass, vocals) and Dan Haggis (drums, vocals). Murphy and Haggis are native Liverpudlians and Øverland-Knudsen is Norwegian. The members met while they were students at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. The band has released four albums, "A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" (2007) and "This Modern Glitch" (2011), “Glitterbug” (2015) and “Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life” (2018). Although, their fifth album is on it’s way, the first single “Method To The Madness” was released May 26th.
Early Years 2003 - 2006
The three met at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. The school gave them the chance to play gigs to over 20,000 people in China. This was one of the band's first trips to play outside the UK. They spent their time traveling around the country in a Vauxhall Agila and spent most of their time drunk, as quoted by the band while on the Colin Murray show in 2007. Their debut single Lost in the Post/Party in a Forest (Where's Laura) was released at the end of 2006. They also managed to release an album in Japan called Girls, Boys and Marsupials and reached fame over in the Far East.
A Guide To Love Loss & Desperation (AGTLL), 2007 -
The band then released a second limited edition vinyl called Moving to New York in January, 2007. This single got critical acclaim from Radio DJs such as Colin Murray and Zane Lowe. In May the band released their third single called Backfire at the Disco this then lead to the band successfully released their first full single Kill the Director in late July. This single managed to reach #35 in the U.K Singles Chart. Their last single "Let's Dance To Joy Division" was released in October 2007, to coincide with the release of their debut album, entitled The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation which managed to get to #11 in the U.K charts. The release is being followed by a European tour ending with a Christmas party at Liverpool Academy. Moving to New York will be re-released on January 14, 2008.
This Modern Glitch (TMG), 2011 -
The first single that are in this album was released back in 2007, under the name 'Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves), and reached #23 in UK charts. The second single was 'Jump Into The Fog', that came out 2011, with three B-sides, 'How I Miss Sally Bray', 'Valentine' and 'Addicted to the Cure'. This single debuted in #35 on UK charts. The next single was 'Anti-D', from
april of 2011, and also came out with three B-sides, 'I'm a Robot Like You', 'Dear Hamburg' and 'Wonderful Distraction'. This single reached #42 on UK charts. We had another single in June of 2011, the first after the album release, called 'Techno Fan' also coming out in a EP format, with the tracks 'Avalanche', 'Trampoline' and 'Shock Goodbyes and P45's'. It was #60 on UK charts. The next single was 'Our Perfect Disease' , which was also released after the album, having 'Guillotine', 'IOU's' and 'Reynold's Park' as B-sides. The last single was '1966', still in 2011.
The album itself was released on 22th April, 2011, having really good reviews on BBC Music, All Music Channel, Daily mirror and 59/100 on Metacritic. It reached #3 in UK's album chart, receiving gold in UK and Australia.
Discography
Albums
- "Girls, Boys and Marsupials" Released in 2006, Vinyl Junkie (Japan Only)
- "The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" Released 05/11/07 (UK) #11 U.K
- "The Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern Glitch"
Released 25/04/11 (UK) #3 U.K
- "Glitterbug" Released 07/04/15 (UK) #5 U.K, #91 Billboard 200
- "Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life" Released 09/02/18 #3 U.K, #190 Billboard 200
Limited Release Singles
2007 "Lost In The Post"
2007 "Moving To New York"
2007 "Backfire At The Disco"
2007 "A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation"
Singles
2007* " Backfire at the Disco"
2007 "Kill the Director" #35 UK
2007 "Let's Dance to Joy Division" #15 UK
2008 "Moving to New York" #37 UK 14 January 2008
2009 "Is This Christmas"
2010 "Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
2011 "Jump Into the Fog"
2011 "Anti-D"
2013 "Your Body is A Weapon"
2) Heroes of the modern garage revival, the Wombats were born sometime in the late 70s, somewhere in the leafy lanes of Maple Heights, Ohio. Teenage guitar strangler John Zinrich, a.k.a. Johnny Fettish (so called because he had a thing for biting women's knees under tables, hence "John Knee Fetish"), had previously lived out the punk ideal by dropping out of high school at age 15 to join Public Enemy, noted in Cle 3.0 for doing "the fastest version ever attempted of 'I Wanna Be Your Dog'." Striving for a poppier sound, Fettish and his suburban neighbor Vic Halm penned a series of power-punk pop gems and entered the first national "Battle of the Garages" competition run by Bomp/Voxx honcho Greg Shaw. The 'Bats contributed a track, "The Reason Why" to the first "Battle" compilation and played on the national "Battle" tour in 1981. Positive public reaction won them a recording contract, and between 1981 and 1984 the 'Bats released two singles and an album, "Zontar Must Die!" on Bomp/Voxx. They also played various notable East Coast and local venues, including the first WRUW Studio Arama show and the opening night of the Lakefront (which displayed "Wombats" on its curb sign for several years as a result). Their energetic live show was notable for speedy fuzzy guitars pumped through Marshall stacks, unintelligible vocals, and the sight of 5'4" Fettish leaping two feet in the air, against a backdrop of six-foot-tall John Lennon-lookalike Halm and equally towering bassist Tim Ratley. In 1984 the Wombats played a show with the seminal Columbus band Great Plains, who brought them to the attention of Gerard Cosloy at Homestead Records. The Wombats subsequently recorded one EP for Homestead, "Mudpuddles", which came out in 1985. Unfortunately, the band had a falling out with Cosloy over their inability to tour, since drummer Tommy Edwards was busy studying to be a refrigerator repairman. As a result, promotion for "Mudpuddles" was almost nil and the 'Bats found themselves once again without a label. In 1986, Fettish and Halm wrote and recorded some excellent demos for a third album which they hoped to place on a major label, but due to lack of interest this project never saw the light of day. Since then, the 'Bats have played sporadically around Cleveland with various lineups.
I Only Wear Black
The Wombats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spring in my step, knife in my back
It's just what I'm like, I keep it inside
Pills in my pocket, head in the sky
I only wear black
I moved to LA and it rained every single day
But I don't really care whether its grey skies or blue
But I don't really care, they couldn't walk me back to you
Sometimes you win but generally, you lose
Black, I only wear black
Spring in my step, knife in my back
It's just what I'm like I keep it inside
Pills in my pocket, head in the sky
I only wear black
Bought a brand new car and flattened a deer by Richmond Park
Suppose I'm not the only one who fails to see the light
Sometimes you laugh but usually, you cry
Black, I only wear black
Spring in my step, knife in my back
It's just what I'm like, I keep it locked up inside
Pills in my pocket, head in the sky
I only wear black
I only wear black
I only wear black, oh
I only wear black, oh
I only wear black
The lyrics to The Wombats' song "I Only Wear Black" depict a sense of darkness, melancholy, and emotional struggle. The repeated phrase, "Black, I only wear black," represents a metaphorical state of mind and emotional state. It suggests that the singer is only comfortable expressing their inner turmoil and pain, and they choose to conceal it by wearing black, a color often associated with sadness and mourning.
The line "Spring in my step, knife in my back" juxtaposes the idea of feeling rejuvenated or having a positive outlook with the constant betrayal and pain they experience. This could imply that even when they try to move forward, they are always brought down by the people or situations they encounter.
The references to pills in their pocket and their head in the sky suggest a reliance on some form of substance or escapism to cope with their emotions. It demonstrates their struggle to find a way to heal or find peace within themselves.
The second verse introduces a change in environment, as the singer moves to Los Angeles. The continuous rain symbolizes their ongoing emotional turmoil, regardless of their physical surroundings. The mention of camping at the beach, learning to surf, and breaking their knees may represent attempts at finding joy or distraction, but ultimately, they emphasize that these experiences cannot bring them back to a desired connection or relationship.
The chorus is repeated throughout the song, indicating the singer's consistent demeanor and how they choose to present themselves to the world. It reflects their complex internal struggles, their isolation, and their difficulty in finding solace or resolution.
Overall, "I Only Wear Black" captures the internal battles, emotional pain, and constant disappointment that the singer feels. It offers a glimpse into their mindset and their attempt to navigate their own darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Black, I only wear black
I prefer to dress exclusively in black clothing
Spring in my step, knife in my back
I appear cheerful and optimistic, but I'm constantly hurt and betrayed
It's just what I'm like, I keep it inside
This is simply my nature, I hide my true feelings
Pills in my pocket, head in the sky
I carry medication with me, but I'm often lost in my own thoughts
I only wear black
I continue to adhere to my preference of wearing black
I moved to LA and it rained every single day
I relocated to Los Angeles, but was met with constant disappointment
But I don't really care whether its grey skies or blue
The weather doesn't affect my emotions or state of mind
We camped at the beach, learned to surf and broke my knees
We had an adventurous time by the beach, but I suffered injuries
But I don't really care, they couldn't walk me back to you
Despite the experiences, it doesn't change the fact that I miss you
Sometimes you win but generally, you lose
Occasionally you achieve success, but overall, you tend to face defeat
Bought a brand new car and flattened a deer by Richmond Park
I purchased a new car, but had an unfortunate accident involving a deer near Richmond Park
Suppose I'm not the only one who fails to see the light
I realize that I'm not the only person who struggles to find positivity or hope
Sometimes you laugh but usually, you cry
Occasionally you find moments of joy, but more often than not, you experience sadness
It's just what I'm like, I keep it locked up inside
Keeping my emotions suppressed is part of who I am
I only wear black
My wardrobe choice remains consistent and unchanged
I only wear black
I continue to solely wear black
I only wear black, oh
Black clothing is all I choose to wear
I only wear black, oh
My attire consists exclusively of black garments
I only wear black
I persist in my preference for black apparel
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin L Free, Jacob Scott Sinclair, Matthew Edward Murphy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind